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when was hanukkah first celebrated

Hanukkah was first celebrated in 164 BCE, when the Temple in Jerusalem was rededicated on the 25th day of the Hebrew month of Kislev after the Maccabean revolt against the Seleucid Greeks.

Quick Scoop: Core Date

  • The earliest celebration of Hanukkah traces to the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem in 164 BCE.
  • This event followed the successful revolt led by Judah Maccabee and his followers against Antiochus IV Epiphanes.
  • The festival was instituted to mark this victory and the renewed dedication of the Temple, which is what the word “Hanukkah” means.

Historical Story In Brief

  • In the 2nd century BCE, the Seleucid ruler Antiochus IV attempted to suppress Jewish religious practice and desecrated the Temple by introducing Greek worship there.
  • A Jewish resistance movement known as the Maccabees fought a guerrilla campaign, eventually retaking Jerusalem and purifying the Temple.
  • Once they regained the sanctuary, they held an eight‑day celebration starting on Kislev 25 in 164 BCE, which became the model for Hanukkah observance.

The Miracle Of The Oil

  • Rabbinic tradition in the Talmud adds the story that only one small jar of pure oil was found for the Temple menorah, enough for one day.
  • Miraculously, the oil is said to have lasted eight days, the time needed to prepare a new supply, which shapes the eight‑night structure of the holiday.
  • Later Jewish practice emphasized this miracle of light , so lighting candles each night became the central symbol of Hanukkah.

From Ancient Rebellion To Modern Holiday

  • For many centuries, Hanukkah remained a relatively minor Jewish festival compared with biblical holidays like Passover and Yom Kippur.
  • In the modern era—especially in North America—it gained prominence, partly because of its winter timing near Christmas and the growth of gift‑giving customs.
  • Today, public menorah lightings, cultural events, and online “Festival of Lights” content help keep Hanukkah a visible and trending topic every December.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.